Rescue workers inspect a car that crashed Sunday along Drytown Road in Martic Township.
Rescue workers inspect a car that crashed Sunday along Drytown Road in Martic Township.
The driver of a buggy died Sunday after he was dragged down a road by his runaway horse, which was pulling a carriage, in Strasburg Township, according to a fire official.
The victim, who was not identified by authorities Sunday night, was a driver for an area business offering buggy rides, the official said.
At the time of the accident, the man was driving a family of three east on Herr Road, heading from Hartman Bridge Road (Route 896) to South Ronks Road, according to Strasburg fire Chief Rick Wentz.
The driver left the buggy at some point during the ride. Wentz said he believed there was "some kind of issue with the horse or the reins."
As the driver was standing in front of the carriage, "the horse bucked or did something and took off down the road, dragging the driver," Wentz said.
He estimated that the driver was dragged about 200 feet.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by Lancaster County Deputy Coroner Jim Lingg, according to Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni.
Diamantoni said an autopsy will be performed today.
Wentz said the three members of the family riding in the buggy were all thrown from the carriage. Officials said two of the persons were injured. One was believed to have been admitted to a hospital.
Wentz said he did not know the name of the business that employed the driver.
Herr Road, from Route 896 to South Ronks Road, was closed for several hours after the 4:38 p.m. accident.
• In a separate incident, a woman was hospitalized after hher vehicle slammed into a utility pole in Martic Township shortly before 8 p.m., according to officials.
Callers reporting the crash said the woman was trapped inside the vehicle and was hanging upside-down by his seat belt.
It took rescuers about 20 minutes to free the victim, whose name was not available Sunday.
Officials at the scene initially asked that a medical helicopter be dispatched but then decided to transport the victim by ambulance to an area hospital. Her condition was not immediately available Sunday night.
State police are investigating both incidents and remained at the scene of both accidents at press time.
No other information was available Sunday night.
